Hell's Kitchen Chef Named Chef at Fire at the Ridge

Kevin Cottle has been to hell and back on the hit show Hell’s Kitchen and will soon hit the slopes as Executive Chef of the new destination restaurant, Fire at the Ridge at Powder Ridge Mountain Park and Resort in Middlefield.

The full-service restaurant will serve up artfully-inspired regional cuisine.

"The Fire is our passion that can be seen throughout the mountain. It comes through in our food, our dedication to teaching adventure sports and our resolve to create unique experiences," said Sean Hayes, managing director of the resort.

Well-known in the Connecticut food scene, Cottle finished runner-up on the sixth season of Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen. He will bring his elegant cooking style and passion for local ingredients to Fire at the Ridge. 

“I am really looking forward to returning to a public restaurant atmosphere. You never know what is going to come through the door and that is what’s so exciting,” he said.

“My goal is to guide a guest through a natural progression of flavors and textures using locally-grown products. It should be a simple experience, never over-barring or over-complicated.” 

As a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and New England native, Kevin was exposed to cooking at a young age and brings his love for seafood and fresh produce into many of his signature dishes.

The 200 person restaurant is slated to open in limited capacity this December, and will be located in the upper-level of the newly renovated Powder Ridge lodge. 

The restaurant will feature fireplaces where guests can watch their friends and family conquer the mountain live via flat screen monitors situated throughout the bar area.